Rona Ambrose, Interim Conservative Leader and MP for Sturgeon River — Parkland, in an interview on December 4, 2015

The topic of job creation – presumably in the private sector – does make an appearance.

FactsCan Score: False

The first throne speech under Justin Trudeau’s Liberals opened the new session of Parliament on December 4. Although delivered by the governor general, the speech is a political one since it’s prepared by the government.

The interim leader of the opposition Conservatives, Rona Ambrose, criticized the speech for what it didn’t cover in an interview with CBC. Among other missing items, she said, “there’s nothing in this plan about private sector employment, about job creation.”

To check this out, we’ll look at the topic of private sector jobs rather than the verbatim words (compare a past claim about missing words).

Does the speech omit the topic of jobs and job creation in the private sector?

It does not.

Consider the meaning of these references from the throne speech, if they were not about private sector jobs:

“A clean environment and a strong economy go hand in hand … To encourage economic growth, the Government will make strategic investments in clean technology, provide more support for companies seeking to export those technologies, and lead by example in their use.”

“To expand economic opportunities for all Canadians, the Government will negotiate beneficial trade agreements, and pursue other opportunities with emerging markets.”

“Recognizing that public investment is needed to create and support economic growth, job creation and economic prosperity, the Government will make significant new investments in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure.”

The throne speech does not directly cover job creation by the private sector, but it does indirectly cover job creation in the private sector. Ambrose’s claim is false.

Did you know?

Similar to the Liberal speech, the first throne speech under Stephen Harper’s Conservatives in 2006 had no direct mention of “private sector,” “jobs,” “job creation” or “employment.”

But it would be wrong to say the Conservatives ignored the topic. The speech did cover Canadian business in “the bustling markets of Asia,” and “Aboriginal entrepreneurs who are creating new opportunities.”